readytorunbook Chapter 308 The situation is bad
Chapter 308 The situation is bad
In the autumn of the 468th year of the Red Moon Calendar, at Hangu Pass of the Dayong Dynasty, near dusk.
The sky was a hazy gray, with heavy, low-hanging clouds, creating a sense of oppressive dread that threatened to crush the city. Yellowed leaves drifted down, adding to the desolate atmosphere. A cool breeze rustled through the air, causing the flags flying on the city walls to flutter wildly.
A sudden chill crept in, and the air became subtly damp. Looking up, one could see that rain had begun to fall from the overcast sky. The fine, desolate rain fell silently, enveloping the soldiers who were training hard below in a misty rain. They were completing one set of movements after another with solemn expressions, their bodies exuding an aura of righteous indignation, seemingly without the slightest fear of the hundreds of thousands of troops under Ge Su outside Hangu Pass.
General Ji Wuge, a young general of Dayong, climbed the city wall and looked out. Through his telescope, he could clearly see the endless Liao army camp just a few miles away from the moat.
His face was very solemn. Thinking of Gosu's hundreds of thousands of troops and the news that came back from the scouts on both flanks yesterday, he felt very depressed, and an indescribable sense of fatigue filled his eyes.
Both flanks had been breached by the Liao army, and the situation at Malan City was also dire. The Liao forces were slowly retreating towards Hangu Pass, and Ge Su's army was attacking Hangu Pass from three directions. The imperial capital was incapable of sending reinforcements. Rumors had circulated that unrest had broken out on the northern border, and that the 100,000 elite troops of the Prince of Lie had been almost completely annihilated in a Liao attack. Ji Wuge, the Grand Commander of the Central Plains Military Command, had intended to reinforce the area but was instead dispatched by the Emperor to the northwest border to guard against a Liao attack from there. Therefore, Ji Wuge felt a sense of despair; Hangu Pass was practically an isolated city.
They originally thought that Tian Sheng would send reinforcements to break through the southern blockade and alleviate their crisis, but they did not expect that Xi Fenglie's Eagle Division would be so fierce and brave, stationing itself directly in Hanyang City on the border and setting up three blockades at the Tian Sheng Dayong Fortress Pass. Even if they wanted to send troops to support them, it would probably be extremely difficult.
Even Lord Yukisaki was wary of Xifeng Lie's Eagle Division. Breaking through the blockade and resolving the crisis would be impossible unless the soldiers grew wings and flew over.
Nearly ten days have passed, and Ge Su's army is already outside the city, ready to attack at any moment. They are just waiting for his two flanks to contract, forming a three-pronged attack before they immediately storm the city. At this time, they only have less than 200,000 troops in Hangu Pass. Ge Su's three armies total nearly 500,000 men, not to mention the 200,000 iron cavalry of Xifenglie stationed in Hanyang. These men alone are enough to give Hangu Pass a hard time.
If things continued this way, even Ji Wuge himself became pessimistic about the prospects of the Hangu Pass resistance. However, he could not show this pessimism to his soldiers. Every day, when he inspected the soldiers' training, he would joke with them as usual, and tell them that the imperial city would soon send reinforcements, and that the brothers fighting in Tiansheng would soon return to Hangu Pass under the leadership of the Minister of Works to welcome Ge Su's army together.
The soldiers believed it to be true, knowing that a large number of their brothers would soon arrive to help them. Moreover, they had heard of Lord Sikong's reputation before, which further boosted their confidence.
Ji Wuge felt that the fall of the King of Lie was very strange. Why did the Liao army in Pas City learn of the news so quickly, less than two days after the King's death? And why did they immediately send troops to attack Tashe City, advancing all the way to Malan City, which fell in a short time before anyone could even react? Such speed was truly baffling! And then there was the matter of Tiansheng. Tuoba Kang's death was also very strange. His death seemed to point all the finger at the Third Prince Tuoba Yu, but…
After thinking it over and over, he still couldn't figure it out. He couldn't help but let out a long sigh, a sense of helplessness and exhaustion creeping into his heart.
What are you thinking about?
Suddenly, Kosaki Ten's gentle voice came from the side.
Ji Wuge was taken aback and immediately turned his head to find Xing Qitian walking towards him with his hands behind his back, looking elegant. Behind him was Xing Fuhua, who was wearing a light blue dress and a fox fur cloak and looked haggard.
"My lord, Your Highness the Princess!"
Ji Wuge bowed respectfully.
Xing Qitian casually waved his hand and stopped beside Ji Wuge. He quietly looked at the vast Liao army camp outside the city. His gentle and handsome face was also somewhat solemn. His hands, which were supporting him on the cold city wall, tightened slightly. A dark light gathered in his silent eyes. He looked somewhat lonely and desolate.
These past few days, Xing Fuhua has seen Xing Qitian so worried about Hangu Pass that he can't sleep. He is anxious and worried, but he doesn't know what he can do. Bad news keeps coming in, and everything seems so bad.
“Father, Brother Ji, you haven’t had a proper rest for days. This can’t go on. I believe things will turn around. Don’t worry too much. Maybe the Emperor will send reinforcements soon…”
She wanted to say something comforting, but didn't know how. Xing Fuhua could only say things that she herself couldn't believe. She forced a smile on her pale and haggard face, but her dim and beautiful eyes shone with a cold, gray light.
“Your Highness shouldn’t have come here. It’s already autumn, and it’s quite cold here. You’re still recovering from your cold, and you’re not taking care of yourself. If something happens to you, how are we supposed to explain it to Ajin?”
Ji Wuge's resolute yet worried gaze fell upon Xing Fuhua beside him. Seeing her frail body trembling like a cold leaf swaying in the wind, his expression immediately turned serious. Ignoring Xing Qitian's presence, he said, "If a great battle comes, I will send someone to help you fight your way out. You don't need to worry. After you escape, go back to the imperial city or go to Tiansheng to find Ajin."
Upon hearing those two words, Xing Fuhua felt another pang of pain in her heart. Her pale and haggard face looked even worse. She lowered her gaze in despair, her delicate hand gripping her cloak tightening slightly. After a long silence, she finally managed a bitter smile, "It doesn't matter anymore. He won't care anyway. There's nothing wrong with being with everyone like this now. I am the Ninth Princess of Dayong. I should share joys and sorrows with the soldiers and live and die with Hangu City!"